Chicken breeds and their characteristics

Whether you're a beginner or an experienced chicken keeper, anyone looking to buy new chickens has a huge number of breeds to choose from. The German Poultry Breeders' Association lists over 180 breeds.

Of course, there are even more chicken breeds worldwide, and this index doesn't include hybrids. However, because some breeds are threatened with extinction, it's almost impossible to give an exact number. Nevertheless, it's clear that having the choice is difficult.

Categories of chicken breeds

Different chicken breeds can be divided into commercial poultry and ornamental poultry. While some fit into more than one category, the following can be distinguished:

1. Meat breeds
2. laying breeds
3. Dual-purpose chicken breeds
4. Fighting chicken breeds

Which chicken breed is right for you depends on a variety of factors. Do you want lots of eggs – even in winter? Or do you prefer chickens that you slaughter? Do you have a lot of experience or are you a novice? And what options does your property offer?

Meat chickens

As the name suggests, meat-breed chickens are bred primarily for meat production. They reach a body weight of 5 kg or more. However, meat-breed chickens don't need to eat more than other chickens to achieve this, as they simply store their feed better.

Due to their larger bodies, meat breeds are significantly less lively than their counterparts and, for example, don't fly. Therefore, a lower fence is sufficient to prevent escapes.

Meat chickens do lay eggs, but at around 140 eggs per year, that's far fewer than other breeds.

Examples:

• Orpington chickens originate from England and hens weigh up to 3.5 kg. They lay approximately 180 cream-colored eggs per year.
• Jersey Giants from the USA weigh up to 4.5 kg as hens and up to 5.5 kg as roosters and lay about 180 eggs per year.
• Brahma hens reach a weight of about 4 kg and lay around 140 yellow-brown eggs per year.

laying hens

Chickens from laying breeds are bred for high egg production and lay at least 180–220 eggs per year. Of course, this figure applies more to young laying hens, whose egg production declines over the course of their lives. Unlike meat chickens, they require a lot of feed, but convert this feed into eggs rather than body weight.

The body size of laying hens is relatively small, which makes them generally very lively. Their meat is edible, even if it is smaller and more muscular.

Examples:

• Leghorn chickens originating in the USA weigh 1.7–2.7 kg and lay around 200 white eggs each year.
• Friesian chickens from the Netherlands, with a body weight of approximately 1.2 kg, lay an impressive 200 eggs per year.
• Kraienköppe roosters weigh up to 3 kg. The hens, weighing 2 kg, lay up to 230 eggs annually.
• Araucanas are a special breed from South America. The 1.8 kg hens lay about 180 turquoise-shelled eggs per year.

Two-piece chickens

Dual-purpose chickens, also known as dual-purpose breeds, represent a wonderful compromise between laying and meat breeds. They effectively convert their feed into body weight—meaning meat—but can also lay up to 200 eggs annually.

Ramelsloher, Sussex, Sundheimer, Welsumer, and many others are quite hardy and easy to care for. They can, for example, be kept outdoors even in winter.

Further examples:

• Amrock chickens from North America weigh up to 4 kg (8.8 lb) as roosters and up to 3 kg (6.6 lb) as hens. They lay approximately 210 eggs per year.
• Sundheimer hens weigh up to 2.5 kg and lay 220 eggs annually. They are winter layers, meaning they lay consistently throughout the winter. Roosters weigh up to 3.5 kg.
• Altsteirer from Styria weigh up to 3 kg as roosters and 2.2 kg as hens with a laying capacity of 180 eggs.

Fighting chickens

Chickens of these breeds are bred primarily for fighting. They differ significantly in appearance from farm chickens: they have thinner feathers, making them more sensitive to cold.

Cockfighting is now banned in almost all Western countries! It only exists in South America and a few Asian countries. However, due to their appearance, fighting chickens are very popular with chicken keepers. They are also very affectionate and tame toward their owners.

Fighting breeds are very muscular, making them unsuitable for slaughter, but they can lay around 100 eggs a year.

If you're keen on these chickens, there are a few things to keep in mind. They're good flyers, so an aviary is recommended! Furthermore, the roosters must be separated from each other as soon as they reach sexual maturity. This is the only way to prevent aggressive behavior and fighting. Hens, too, cannot be kept with hens of other breeds without problems.

Examples:

• Depending on their sex, Bruges Fighters weigh between 3.5 and 5.5 kg. The hens lay up to 120 eggs annually.
• Palatinate fighting chickens weigh around 2 kg and the hens can be expected to lay around 100 eggs per year.

Bantams

Some breeds are naturally very small, such as the Antwerp Bearded Bantam at 600–700 g or the even smaller Dutch Bantams at only 400–500 g. In addition, there are bred bantam breeds for almost all popular standard breeds in every category.

A major advantage of keeping bantams is, of course, their smaller space requirements while still maintaining the elegance of their larger namesakes. However, keep in mind that their eggs are smaller and fewer in number. If egg and meat production are important to you, bantam breeds aren't ideal for you!

All in all, bantams are primarily suitable as ornamental breeds. However, they have the same requirements as large breeds. They also love a dust bath and sufficient space to run around and hide.

Hybrid chickens

There are also hybrid chickens. These are specially bred for the agricultural industry and, with their extremely high egg production, are ideal for commercial livestock farming. They lay up to 320 eggs per year.

Silverneck chickens, Lohmann chickens, and the like are actually crosses between different chicken breeds, which sometimes can no longer be traced back to their original origin. Strictly speaking, therefore, there are no such things as "hybrid breeds."

Hobby keepers benefit from their robustness and reliability in terms of egg and meat quality. Health or behavioral problems that can occur in purebred chickens due to overbreeding and inbreeding are comparatively rare in hybrids.

However, a large amount of feed is essential for egg production – also to prevent aggressive behavior from hungry birds. Hybrid chickens are not suitable for breeders due to their lack of purebredness.

Summary

Depending on your expectations, experience, and circumstances, you can choose from nearly 200 listed chicken breeds. Categories like laying or meat chickens help you make a preliminary selection to make your dream of owning your own flock come true—or to expand and diversify your existing flock.